Plow.



PATENTED'SEPT. 11, 1906. P. F. FREEMAN.

PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED JULY. 1904- I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Bed (r QrZaL/L No.830,657. PATENTED SEPT. 11 1906.

P. F. FREEMAN.

PLOW.

. LPPLIGATION FILED JULY 22. 1904.

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UNITED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY F. FREEMAN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO LA OROSSE PLOWCOMPANY, OF LA UROSSE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1 1, 1906.

Application filed July 22, 1904. Serial No. 217,658.

- and exact description.

. wheels.

openers provided with carrying-wheels, and more particularly to thatclass of plows which are provided with a steering connection for guidingand controlling the furrow- The invention designs to provide a simplesteering device or connection for the rear furrow-wheels which can beadjusted by the operator while the plow is in use, so the rear furrow-wheel can be ad'usted into angular relation with respect to t e lineof draft, to rectify any tendency to cut unevenor irregularfurrow-slices-e. g., which frequently occurs when plowing in hard soilor on hillsides, and which can release the rear caster-wheel forindependent movement necessary in turning corners. The inventionconsists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a disk-plow embodying thepreferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the partsat the rear. Fig. 3 is a detail plan of the adjustable and detachableconnection of the steering-rod, the hand-lever being shown in section.Figs. 4 and 5 are detail vertical sections showing the latch of thesteering connection in released and locked positions, respectively. Fig.6 is a plan of the modified form of the invention.

A frame A, sustained in usual manner by a land-wheel B, a frontcaster-wheel O, mounted upon an axle having its vertical standard 0swiveled in a bracket (1 of the frame, and a rear caster-wheel D,journaled on an axle (1, having its vertical standard d swiveled in abracket (1 of the frame. These parts may be of any suitable andwell-known construction, and the usual seat E, levers, and raising andlowering devices may also be provided, as well understood in the art.Disks F are carried by the frame.

A clevis or draft-bar G, to which the team in the county of Mult-.

I pivotally connected at rear end of clevis G, and its other end passesloosely through eye 25 of stud 24. A segis hitched, is pivoted at g to ashort tongue 20,

which is secured to the frame. The clevis is swung about its pivot bythe team and has secured thereto an arm 9, which is connected by a rod22 to an arm 23, which is secured to the axle c of the frontfurrow-wheel. This connection between the clevis and the axle Theinvention relates to plows or furrowof caster-wheel 0 causes the frontwheel to swing with the team. An arm (1 is secured to the axle-standardd and at its free end is pivotally sustained a stud 24, which isprovided with an eye 25. A steering-rod 26 is its front end to themental toothed rack 27 is secured by bolts 28 .to rod 26 and ahand-lever 28 pivoted to said rack, as at 29, and is provided with alock 30 and finger-lever 31, whereby the lever can be adjusted andsecured in assigned position. A sleeve 32 is mounted in manner free toslide along rod 26 and is connected by a link 33 to han -lever 28 Alatch 34 is pivoted at 35 to sleeve 32 and is adapted to overlie andengage the back of stud 24 to operatively connect the steering-rod toarm 0Z (see Fig. 5) when in one position and is adapted to release thesteering-rod from arm d to free the rear furrow-wheel for independentmovement. By adjustment of hand-lever 28 sleeve 32, latch 34, and stud24 can be shifted to swing arm d to vary the plane or angle of rotationof the rear fLUI'OW-WhGGl so as to travel truly in the line of draft orto serve as -a rudder and to overcome any tendency to move downhill inhillside work or away from the preceding furrow when plowing hard soil.Manifestly such adjustment can be readily effected by the operator,hand-lever 28 being in convenient reach of the operator without stoppingthe plow. Rod 26 is connected to clevis G substantially at the rear ofclevispivot 9, so slight lateral sway of the clevis by the team will notswing the rear caster-wheel out of line.

When the steering connection is locked,the front and rear wheels will berigidly connected to steer the plow in response to the team and therelative position of the rear wheel to correct any tendency to sidewisetravel with respect to the line of travel can be adjusted to a nicety bythe operator while the plow is in operation. In some instances-e. 9.,

when a sharp corner is to be turned toward unplowed landrelease of therear wheel is necessary to permit said wheel to caster independently ofthe clevis and front Wheel. The operator then shifts latch 34 intoposition shown in Fig. 4, and then arm d and stud will be disconnectedfrom sleeve 32 and the rear caster-wheel will be free for independentmovement.

The rear caster-wheel and its axle are so disposed with respect to theframe that forward travel will move said wheel forwardly afterindependent rearward movement thereof, so stud 25 can be readily lockedto the steering-rod when desired. In some instances it is desirable toallow the latch to remain in position to permit the rear wheel to remainreleased for independent movement, and for that reason the latch isarranged so it will remain in released position until restored tolocking position by the operator.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modification in which a steering-rod 26 isconnected at its front to a crank 23, which is secured to the aXlestandard of the front furrow-wheel. In this construction thesteering-rod for the rear wheel will be controlled by the front wheel C,which is controlled by the team.

The details of construction may be modified Without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a plow, the combination of front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection comprising a hand-lever for adjusting the connectionto vary the angle of one of said wheels with respect to the other, andmeans whereby the connection can be released to free one of thecaster-wheels for independent swiveling movement said device beingoperative independently of the hand-lever.

2. In a plow, the combination of rear and front caster-wheels, and asteering connection comprising a rod, a hand-lever for adjusting theconnection to vary the angle of one of said wheels, a latch whereby theconnection can be released independently of the lever to free one of thecaster-wheels for independent swiveling movement.

3. In a plow the combination of rear and 4 front caster-wheels, and asteering connection comprising a rod, a hand-lever, and a rack to whichsaid lever is adjustably connected for adjusting the connection to varythe angle of one of said wheels with respect to the other, a latchwhereby the connection can be released independently of the lever tofree one of the caster-wheels for independent swiveling movement.

4. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection comprising an arm for the rear wheel, a rod havingconnection at its front whereby its movement will be controlled by theteam and having at its rear, a swiveled and sliding connection with saidarm, a hand-lever for adjusting the connection to vary the angle of therear wheel, a rack to which said lever is adjustably connected, and alatch whereby the connection can be released to free one of the rearcaster-wheels for independent movement.

5. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-Wheels, and asteering connection between thewheels comprising a hand-lever foradjusting the connection to vary the angle of one of the wheels withrespect to the other, and means whereby the operator can release thesteering connection to permit independent movement of one of thecasterwheels with respect to the other, said means being arranged toremain in released position when shifted by the operator.

6. In a plow the combination of a front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection between the wheels comprising a hand-lever foradjusting the connection to vary the angle of one of the wheels withrespect to the other and a latch whereby the operator can release thesteering connection to permit independent movement of one of thecasterwheels with respect to the other said latch being arranged toremain in released position when shifted by the operator.

7. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection between the wheels comprising a hand-lever foradjusting the connection to vary the angle of one of the wheels withrespect to the other, a rack to which said lever is adjustably securedand means whereby the operator can release the steering connection topermit independent movement of one of the caster-wheels with respect tothe other, said means being arranged to remain in released position whenshifted by the operator.

8. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection between the wheels comprising a hand-lever, foradjusting the connection to vary the angle of one of the wheels withrespect to the other, a rack to which saidlever is adjustably securedand a latch whereby the operator can'release the steering connection topermit independent movement of one of the caster-wheels with respect tothe other said latch being arranged to remain in released position whenshifted by the operator.

9. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-wheels, and asteering connection comprising an arm for therear Wheel, a rod having atits front, connection whereby its movement will be controlled by theteam, and having at its rear a swiveled and sliding connection with saidarm, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a hand-lever connected to and foradjusting, said sleeve along said rod, and

a latch for connecting the hand-lever and sleeve, and whereby the rearwheel can be released for independent movement.

10. In a plow the combination of front and rear caster-Wheels, and asteering connection comprising an. arm for the rear Wheel, a rod havingat its front, connection whereby its movement will be controlled by theteam, and having at its rear a swiveled and sliding connection with saidarm, a sleeve slidable on said rod, a rack secured to said rod, ahand-lever adjustably connected to said rack and for shifting saidsleeve along said rod, and a latch pivoted to the sleeve, and Wherebythe rear wheel can be released for independent swiveling movement.

11. In a plow the combination of a frame, front and rear caster-wheels,a clevis pivoted at the front of the frame, and a steering con- 20nection for the rear caster-Wheel, comprising a rod connected to theclevis, means whereby the connection can be adjusted to vary the angleof the rear caster-Wheel, and means whereby the rear Wheel can bereleased for independent movement.

12. In a plow the combination of a frame, front and rear caster-wheels,a clevis pivoted at the front of the frame, and a steering connectionfor the rear caster-wheel, comprising a rod connected to the clevis, ahand-lever and a rack whereby the connection can be adjusted to vary theangularity of the rear caster-wheel and means whereby the rear wheel canbe released for independent movement.

PERCY F. FREEMAN.

Witnesses:

J. A. FREEMAN, ADELLA R. MCBRIDE.

